PITTSBURGH — R.A. Dickey wears No. 43 on his uniform, but within the context of the Mets rotation sure seems like No. 1 — or 1A at worst.
The veteran knuckleballer continues to earn wins and respect. Maybe the only thing missing is a new contract from the Mets.
Though Dickey is reluctant to speak publicly about the situation, he admitted to The Post after the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the Pirates last night at PNC Park that he would be thrilled if the front office began discussions with him about picking up his 2013 option then extending his contract.
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R.A.’S DAY: Mike Baxter (2) is congratulated by Daniel Murphy last night in Pittsburgh after scoring the go-ahead run on a single by Lucas Duda in the eight inning, which delivered a 3-2 win to starter R.A. Dickey, who struck out 11.
“I like it here and I want to be here,” Dickey said after allowing one earned run over seven innings to move into a tie for the NL lead in victories with six. “I feel like the team is moving in the right direction, and I want to be a part of the solution. Now it’s up to them. If I’m in those plans, [addressing the contract] is one way to make it known.”
BOX SCORE
The 37-year-old Dickey, who signed a two-year deal worth $7.8 million before last season (the club’s 2013 option is worth $5 million), certainly doesn’t dispute the notion he is among the NL’s best bargains. With last night’s performance, which included a career-high 11 strikeouts, he is 6-1 with a 3.45 ERA.
“I made the comment before, when I signed my contract, that it was my hope to be the best bargain around,” Dickey said. “It looks like it’s kind of come true the last couple of years.”
Last month, the Mets locked up Jon Niese with a $25.5 million contract extension that runs five years. If the Mets were to negotiate with Dickey during the season, they would be in position to sign him for 2014 at perhaps a lower dollar figure than if they waited.
The Mets made Dickey sweat for his victory last night.
Lucas Duda’s RBI single in the eighth pushed across Mike Baxter with the go-ahead run. Baxter, batting leadoff for the first time in his career, smashed a double off Andrew McCutchen’s outstretched glove in center before Kirk Nieuwenhuis walked. After David Wright whiffed for the second out, Duda hit a smash off the first baseman Garrett Jones’ glove to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. Pedro Alvarez later booted Daniel Murphy’s grounder to give the Mets an insurance run.
With Dickey at 87 pitches and cruising in a 1-1 game, manager Terry Collins gambled by removing the knuckleballer for a pinch hitter to begin the eighth. Andres Torres entered and struck out, extending his slump over the last nine days to 1-for-34 with 11 strikeouts.
“When Andres strikes out you say, ‘Well, hell, R.A. could have done that,’ ” Collins said.
Frank Francisco had a second straight strong performance, pitching a perfect ninth for his 11th save.
“I kept the ball low in the zone and thank God I didn’t make any mistakes,” Francisco said.
Dickey didn’t allow a run until the sixth, when Andrew McCutchen’s sacrifice fly after a Josh Harrison triple made it 1-1.
Mike Nickeas’ RBI single in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead after McDonald struck out the side in the first. Murphy and Ronny Cedeno walked in the second before Nickeas slapped a single to left, but was thrown out attempting to reach second, ending the inning.
mpuma@nypost.com
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